The Bel-Air Custom Road Case: Create Your Perfect Case
A custom road case can be your best friend on any long journey, protecting your equipment from the typical bumps and bruises of transport. At Bel-Air Cases, we have more than 50 years of expertise packed into every custom case we build, and through the years, we’ve built cases for just about any type of equipment you can imagine.
Our custom cases are built to protect delicate and expensive items. Bel-Air cases are ideal for music equipment, lighting equipment, electronics, camera equipment and anything else you might need to transport for your next event or production.
We offer three types of cases, all of which can be fully customized. These include medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases, as well as shipping cases and trade show cases. The heavy-duty carrying cases, shipping cases and trade show cases are all built to withstand frequent shipment as cargo or freight. The shipping cases are the perfect option for anyone needing a versatile and durable road case, and here’s a look at what you can expect from a Bel-Air case.
1. Versatile & Durable Case Materials
Our custom shipping cases are built for the harsh realities of transport. Our cases are built to meet or exceed ATA standards and can even be built to match many MIL specs. Our heavy-duty shipping cases can handle hundreds of flights with ease, protecting your delicate and expensive equipment.
We use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for the shells and quality aluminum for the valances for each equipment case we build. These materials were chosen for many reasons, and durability was definitely a huge factor. HDPE is not only highly impact-resistant but also able to handle temperature extremes and humidity as well as providing a high level of moisture resistance and chemical resistance.
2. Lightweight & Easy-To-Maneuver
When you conjure up an image of a custom road case, you might think about a heavy wooden case and while those are common and highly durable, there’s no getting around the fact that they weigh a ton, even when empty and that can greatly increase your transportation costs.
On the other hand, Bel-Air cases are extremely lightweight, which makes transport easier and much less expensive. We also can add wheels and handles to most shipping cases, which makes it even easier to navigate your bulky case through a crowded airport or a trade show floor, a concert venue or wherever you need to go.
3. Many Custom Options
One reason why traditional wood custom road cases were so popular is that they offer a high level of flexibility in design, but HDPE offers a similarly high level of design customization. We can create durable transport cases in virtually any size configuration you might need, but that’s just one of the facets we can customize.
We offer a myriad of color options. Our standard colors are black and silver, but we have several optional stock colors including red, yellow, orange, white, blue, green and olive. In some cases, with larger orders, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching, and we also can design cases with molded-in logos or add custom decals or engraved plates.
Customizing the color or adding a logo or decal can be a great option if you plan to order several cases. This makes it easier to identify your case in a crowded setting, but also adds a professional touch to your cases and boosts your brand identity.
Additionally, we offer a huge selection of handles, latches, locks, wheels and case feet. If you don’t see quite what you want among our selection of hardware, we typically can find a source for whatever you need. With Bel-Air, it’s all about providing the customer with an ultimate level of customization and quality.
4. Quality Interior Foam
While the exterior of a custom road case needs to be able to handle the rigors of transport, we believe the interior should be equally protective. To often, though, when you purchase custom equipment cases with foam inside, the manufacturers hand off the case with a chunk of cheap pick-and-pluck foam. Not only is this foam of low quality, but it forces the customer to cut away at the foam to make cavities for their equipment.
At Bel-Air Cases, our cases always include a high-quality foam interior. We can provide you with a basic foam liner, but we also are experts at fabricating interior case designs. Whether you need die cuts to cushion and protect your equipment or you also need panel mounts, shock mounts, interior doors, interior windows or other custom interior design features, we can provide you with whatever you need.
Order Custom Cases Now
To get started on your custom road case order, simply head to the Contact Us tab and fill our quick contact form. You also can select the Request a Quote tab and provide us with some details about your case needs, and a member of our sales team will put together a free cost quote for our services. We are proud to be American-owned and operated, and all of our cases are produced at our manufacturing facility in Ontario, California.
Take Off Securely With A Bel-Air Custom Flight Case
By its very definition, a flight case should be capable of handling the jostling and bumping typical of any cargo hold. If you’re tired of arriving at your destination only to find that your expensive equipment was damaged during the journey, opting for Bel-Air custom flight cases can be the solution to this common problem.
Custom-Made Flight Cases: The Ultimate Level Of Protection
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been designing custom shipping cases and custom built flight cases for more than 50 years. During that time our custom equipment cases have served as cargo on a wide range of conveyances – including some of the toughest military vehicles, and the equipment inside remained unscathed from even the bumpiest rides.
While custom flight cases do come with a higher price tag than off-the-shelf shipping cases, we believe there are some compelling advantages of investing in custom cases, including the following:
Custom Cases Offer Enhanced Protection
Custom flight cases are designed specifically for your equipment, providing superior protection against impacts, vibrations, and other potential damage during transit. They often include shock-absorbing materials and tailored padding to ensure your gear remains safe.
Our Custom Flight Cases Have A Long Life
Some of our earliest carrying cases and transport cases, from way back in the 1960s, are still going strong! We use the highest quality materials for our cases, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for the shells as well as building out each case with high-quality custom foam inserts. A Bel-Air Case is meant to last for decades, and we like to think of each case as a lifetime companion for your equipment.
A Perfect Fit
With an off-the-shelf case, there’s no guarantee that your equipment will fit well into the case, and this can lead to problems during transit. Custom flight cases are tailored to the exact dimensions of your equipment, ensuring a snug fit that minimizes movement and potential damage. This level of customization is not possible with standard, off-the-shelf cases.
A Well-Organized Interior
The interior of our custom cases can be designed with specific compartments, plastic dividers and interior doors to keep your equipment organized and easily accessible. This helps in quickly locating and using your gear without rummaging through a cluttered case.
As a side note, we never hand off a case to a client without creating a custom foam interior. Too many case manufacturers sell cases that simply contain a chunk of cheap diced foam, forcing the customer to create cavities for their equipment. This foam will not stand the test of time, nor will it protect your equipment properly. We use the highest quality case foam and design case interiors that cushion and protect every inch of your equipment.
Security Features
Many custom flight cases come with advanced security features such as lockable latches and combination locks, as well as GPS tracking and other options. These features provide peace of mind, knowing that your valuable equipment is safe from theft and unauthorized access.
Weather Resistance
The materials we use, especially the HDPE for the case shells, provide a high level of weather resistance. If your flight case is drenched on an airport tarmac, the equipment inside will stay nice and dry. Our cases also can protect your equipment from humidity, dust and extreme temperatures. Whether you need to take your cases to the South Pole or Death Valley, you can rest assured that the case will maintain its integrity.
Ease of Transport
We can add wheels and handles to just about any case, which makes it easy to move your cases wherever they need to go. For instance, our flight cases can be designed with ergonomic handles, wheels, and other transport-friendly features, making it easier to move heavy or bulky equipment. This convenience is especially valuable for frequent travelers and touring professionals.
Branding Opportunities
Because every flight case we make is built from scratch, this allows us an ultimate level of customization and that includes adding your brand to your case. We can design cases with molded-in-logos or add custom decals or engraved plates to any case. We also offer a wide selection of case colors including black, silver, white, green, olive, blue, red, yellow and orange.
Long-Term Savings
While the initial investment in a custom flight case may be higher, the long-term savings from reduced equipment damage, repairs, and replacements can make it a cost-effective choice. Protecting your gear with a durable, custom case helps avoid expensive mishaps.
Our Cases Are Versatile!
What can a Bel-Air Case hold? Just about anything you can imagine. Through the years, we’ve built cases to hold medical equipment, audio-visual equipment, lighting equipment, diagnostic equipment, military equipment, music equipment and so much more. Whether you are in a band and need a durable, dependable custom road casev or perhaps heading to a movie or photo shoot with a ton of expensive gear, our custom flight cases will protect your precious items.
Order Custom Flight Cases Today!
Whether you need just one flight case or a fleet of cases, the team at Bel-Air can design and build whatever you might need. To get started on a custom case order, simply head to the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our contact form. A member of our sales team will be in touch as soon as possible to gather all the details needed to create your heavy duty shipping cases.
Custom Shipping Cases: Design Your Perfect Case
Transporting delicate or expensive equipment can be a perilous experience. Will your equipment arrive unscathed? It’s certainly not unusual to open your case and discover that items have been damaged. Unless, of course, you opt for a Bel-Air custom shipping case. Our made-to-order custom shipping cases are not only lightweight, attractive and fully customizable, they also shield your items from the harsh realities of travel.
Industries We Serve
At Bel-Air Cases, we design and manufacture custom shipping cases for a wide range of industries including the medical industry, entertainment industry, aerospace industry and the military.
Whether you need to transport or store diagnostic equipment, lighting equipment, audio-visual equipment, lighting, camera gear or anything expensive or fragile, opting for a custom shipping case from Bel-Air is the best way to ensure that your equipment stays safe in just about any condition. If you need an ATA shipping case, our designs and materials meet or exceed ATA case standards and can be built to MIL specs, as well.
Why Plastic? 10 Reasons We Use HDPE
At Bel-Air, we were the first company to produce vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and shipping cases. Plastic might not seem like the material of choice for durable transport cases, but the plastic we use has many advantages over other materials.
The vacuum-formed shells of each custom shipping case are created using high-density polyethylene. HDPE is an ideal material for manufacturing durable and effective shipping cases. Here are 10 facts about HDPE that emphasize its suitability and benefits for creating custom shipping cases.
- High Impact Resistance: HDPE has a high strength-to-density ratio, which provides it with exceptional resistance to impacts. This makes it an excellent material for protecting sensitive equipment during transportation.
- Moisture Resistant: HDPE is naturally water-resistant, which means it doesn’t absorb water and can protect contents from moisture. This quality ensures that the cases are suitable for use in various environmental conditions.
- Chemical Resistance: HDPE is resistant to many chemicals, making it ideal for heavy duty shipping cases that might be exposed to corrosive substances or various industrial environments.
- Durability: HDPE is known for its high tensile strength and durability. It can withstand harsh treatment, such as being dropped or knocked around during transit, without deforming.
- Lightweight: Despite its strength and durability, HDPE is a relatively lightweight material, which helps reduce shipping costs and makes the cases easier to handle.
- UV Resistance: HDPE is resistant to ultraviolet (UV) rays, preventing the material from breaking down or degrading when exposed to sunlight over time. This is crucial for cases used frequently outdoors.
- Recyclable: HDPE is a recyclable material, making it an environmentally friendly choice for businesses concerned with sustainability. This feature can be particularly appealing to eco-conscious customers. Of course, keep in mind, that your Bel-Air shipping case is meant to last a lifetime, so it may never go near a recycling bin. Many of our original cases (from the 1960s) are still going strong today.
- Temperature Resistance: HDPE remains stable and functional in both very low and high temperatures, making it suitable for a wide range of climates and operational conditions.
- Ease of Fabrication: The material is easy to mold and fabricate into various shapes, which is ideal for manufacturing custom shipping cases that fit specific items or equipment snugly.
- Longevity: HDPE does not rot, mold, or mildew, which contributes to its longevity. Our shipping cases and trade show cases made from HDPE can be used repeatedly over many years without a decrease in performance.
Custom Cases – Inside & Out
We offer a wide range of custom features for our cases, but the most important option is probably our custom foam interiors. If you are paying for a custom shipping case, we believe this cost should include a custom foam interior. We don’t simply hand you a case with a cheap pick-and-pluck foam insert. This is a common type of low-quality foam and it simply doesn’t provide enough protection for your equipment.
Pick-and-pluck foam, also known as diced foam, is a common problem in our industry. It’s not only a cheap option but using this type of foam also forces the customer to pick away at the foam to create cavities to fit their items. This is hardly attractive, and, quite frankly, if you are paying a premium for custom shipping cases, you should expect custom foam inserts.
When it comes to plastic cases with foam, this interior can be as simple or as complicated as you might need. It could be a thick slab of quality foam with several die cuts designed to perfectly fit your equipment. You also could opt for a foam interior with windows, interior doors, plastic dividers and other helpful features. Not only does this protect your equipment, but it also creates an attractive display, which adds a truly professional look to your case.
Additional Shipping Case Options
The exterior size and configuration of your case can be customized, as well as the foam interior, but we offer many other custom features. Case hardware, such as handles, latches, locks, wheels and feet all can be customized, and we have a huge selection of hardware options.
We can personalize your custom shipping cases with molded-in logos or add decals or engraved plates to your case. We also can customize the case color. We offer black and silver as our standard colors, but we have several additional stock colors and often can provide custom colors or color matching for larger orders.
Order A Custom Bel-Air Case Now
Whether you need durable custom shipping cases that can handle flight after flight after flight or need custom carry cases or perhaps trade show shipping cases, we can provide whatever you might need. There’s no order minimum either, so if you need just one case or hundreds, the team at Bel-Air Cases is ready to provide you with a custom case that meets all of your specifications.
Bel-Air: The Ultimate Plastic Carrying Case
If you need a durable, lightweight plastic carrying case with a handle that can endure frequent transport, a Bel-Air plastic carrying case is the ideal choice. For more than 50 years, we’ve been creating custom cases that not only look great but also offer the ultimate level of protection for whatever you place inside your case.
100% Made-To-Order Cases
For many items, an off-the-shelf case might be a great choice. For instance, if you need to transport inexpensive items or something not particularly delicate, purchasing a ready-made case can be an affordable, practical option.
However, if you need to transport delicate or expensive equipment, opting for a custom plastic carrying case is the best option. At Bel-Air, every equipment case we make is made to order and we build it to cushion and protect whatever you intend to place inside the case. We like to think of our cases as a type of insurance, providing the highest possible level of protection for your equipment.
Throughout the years, we have designed transport cases for just about anything you could imagine. This includes lighting equipment, audio-visual equipment, camera equipment and gear, medical and diagnostic equipment and even military and aerospace gear. If you need an ATA case, our cases meet or exceed ATA standards and we can build cases to meet most MIL specifications.
The bottom line is that the transportation industry is tough on cases, that’s just a fact of life. And while your Bel-Air plastic carrying cases might suffer from a scratch or two, when you pop open the case, your equipment will still be in tip-top shape and ready to go.
Materials We Use
Bel-Air Cases was the first producer of vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and shipping cases. Every case we make is vacuum-formed using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with aluminum valances. We chose these two materials because they provide a high level of durability yet are still lightweight and manageable.
Throughout the case industry, you’ll find vacuum-formed cases like ours as well as roto-molded cases, injection molded cases, aluminum cases and fabricated wood cases. Any of these can be custom-made to fit your gear, but few have the advantages you’ll enjoy with a vacuum-formed HDPE case.
For instance, fabricated wood cases, which often are used as road cases, offer a high level of customization and can be made in virtually any size. However, these cases are extremely heavy, which makes maneuverability difficult and can seriously impact your shipping budget.
Roto-molded cases are extremely durable, but they also are quite heavy and there’s little room for customization. Injection-molded cases are lighter in weight, but are only available in certain sizes, again limiting your ability to customize.
Our vacuum-formed cases tend to be the best option for most types of equipment, but if we take a look at your items and determine that another type of case would be a better fit, we will let you know and help you find a good source for the type of case you need.
Medium-Duty Vs. Heavy-Duty Cases
We offer two different types of custom carrying cases – a medium-duty case and a heavy duty carrying case. Medium-duty cases are ideal for items that won’t be transported as luggage or freight. For instance, these cases often are used as sales kits, demo kits and OEM kits.
If you need a lightweight plastic carrying case that can handle frequent trips in the cargo hold of a train, plane or perhaps a rocket ship, our heavy-duty plastic carrying case is the best option. We build these cases using the same heavy-duty materials we use for our shipping cases, but we form the case on our carrying case molds. The result is an amazing, durable case that’s also easy to transport.
Custom Foam Inserts
While the durability of the case exterior is vital, our custom foam interiors provide a second layer of protection. We use the highest quality foam in the case industry and every interior is crafted specifically to cushion your equipment. Too often, a case maker will present you with a case filled with cheap pick-and-pluck foam. This foam not only breaks down quickly, but it’s just a chunk of foam without any custom cavities for your equipment.
If you are paying for a custom plastic carrying case, we believe that case should include 100% customized foam. We are experts at fabricating interior foam and can add any features you need. Our design team can provide you with a simple foam liner or include a foam design with plastic dividers, interior walls, die cuts, panel mounts, shock mounts and more.
Customize Colors, Handles, Locks & More
If you’ve been searching the web for a high-quality “plastic carrying case with handle,” you’ve come to the right place. Generally, most carrying cases do include a handle, but at Bel-Air, we offer a huge selection of handles, including a telescoping handle that can be a perfect addition to a case with wheels.
Additionally, you can customize the case wheels as well as the hinges, locks and latches. We also can provide you with a variety of color options. Our standard case colors are silver and black, but we do offer several additional stock colors including blue, green, olive, red, orange, yellow and white.
We also can build cases with molded-in logos or add custom engraved plates or decals. Imagine a fleet of carrying cases and shipping cases featuring your company logo in a distinctive color. This level of customization adds a truly professional touch and it can be a great option for sales kits and OEM cases.
Order Plastic Carrying Cases Today
Whether you need just one plastic carrying case with a handle or you need dozens of cases, we can build cases that meet all of your specifications. We also can build custom shipping cases and custom trade show cases with wheels. To get started on a case project, just click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form.
Bel-Air Carrying Cases: Ultimate Protection For Valuables
If you need to protect valuable items such as electronics, diagnostic equipment, medical equipment, photography equipment or perhaps something else expensive or fragile, our custom carrying cases can be a perfect fit.
What Type Of Carry Case Should You Select?
We offer two “levels” of carrying cases, our medium-duty carry cases and our heavy-duty carrying cases. Our medium-duty cases can be created in hundreds of sizes and almost limitless custom configurations. Your cases will look, function, protect and display your products precisely the way you require.
These cases are perfect for OEM applications as well as for sales kits, diagnostic instruments and electronics. Typically, we recommend that these cases not be used as shipping cases, although they are fine as airline luggage on occasion.
If you do need a plastic carrying case that can be transported frequently as luggage or freight, then you would want to opt for our heavy-duty carrying cases. These cases are created using the same materials that we would use for our heavy-duty shipping cases, but we form them on our carrying case molds.
The result is a highly durable, yet lightweight case that fully protects your expensive and delicate items. If you need ATA cases, the heavy-duty carry cases can be built to meet ATA specs as well as many MIL specs. The heavy-duty carrying case is perfect when you have items to ship frequently, yet you want a case that is smaller and easier to maneuver in tight spaces.
Why Plastic?
There are many different case materials for consumers to consider, but plastic has some distinct advantages over materials such as aluminum and wood. While aluminum is lightweight, it’s easily damaged and the level of customization is much lower. Fabricated wood cases, often used for custom road cases, can be created in just about any size, but these are quite heavy and expensive to ship.
Our plastic materials, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are lightweight, which makes them easier to transport and less expensive to transport. Additionally, HDPE is highly water-resistant and chemical-resistant, as well as being able to handle temperature extremes.
Our equipment cases with foam also are created using vacuum-forming, which allows us to create cases in a vast array of configurations. Other plastic cases, such as injection-molded and roto-molded cases are quite durable, but the level of customization is far lower.
Our team will assess your case needs to determine if a Bel-Air Case or another type of case is the best fit for your needs. If we find that another type of case is the best fit, we will point you in the right direction to find a quality manufacturer.
Why Choose Custom Cases?
1. A Perfect Fit
Custom carrying cases can be tailored to precisely fit the items you want to protect, ensuring a snug and secure fit. Off-the-shelf cases may not provide the exact dimensions or interior configurations needed for your items, which could lead to them shifting around or getting damaged during transport.
2. Enhanced Protection
Custom carrying cases often include features designed to provide additional protection, such as our custom foam inserts or compartments that are specifically molded to accommodate your items. These added features can minimize the risk of damage from impacts, vibrations, and other environmental factors, unlike generic cases that may lack such specialized protection.
Our custom cases include custom foam interiors. Some manufacturers will sell you a custom case with a chunk of cheap pick-and-pluck foam inside. This cheap diced foam breaks down easily and the customer is forced to create cavities for their equipment.
At Bel-Air Cases, we use the highest quality case foam, and we believe that if you are paying for a custom case, it should include a custom foam interior. We can create any type of hard case with foam that you need, adding special interior features such as panel mounts, shock mounts, windows, interior doors and more.
3. Personalization & Branding
Custom carrying cases can be designed to showcase your brand identity or personal style. You can choose colors, logos, and other design elements that make the case unique and easily identifiable. Off-the-shelf cases typically come in standard designs and colors, limiting the opportunity for personalization.
With Bel-Air Cases, you can customize the size and configuration, interior features and add many custom elements to your padded equipment case. We offer a wide variety of latches, locks, feet, wheels and handles. In addition to our standard colors (black and silver), we offer an array of stock colors including white, yellow, orange, red, green, olive and blue. We also can add molded-in logos or add custom engraved plates and decals to each case.
Order Custom Carrying Cases Today!
Whether you need just one carrying case or a fleet of carrying cases, the team at Bel-Air cases is here to help. Simply click on the Request A Quote tab on our homepage and provide us with some basic details about your custom case project. We also can provide you with heavy-duty shipping cases as well as heavy-duty trade show cases.
Bel-Air Cargo Cases: Rugged Custom Shipping Cases
If you need to ship expensive or delicate items as luggage or cargo, you need cargo cases that can withstand the punishment inflicted by the transportation industry. Our Bel-Air custom shipping cases can protect your products whether they are transported by airplane, container ship, train, trucks, tanks or even in a rocket to the International Space Station.
There are plenty of case manufacturers out there, so why choose us over an off-the-shelf case company or another custom cargo case or shipping case manufacturer? There are several reasons why we believe Bel-Air Cases is the best option for many types of equipment.
5 Reasons To Choose Bel-Air Cargo Cases
- We Have 50+ Years Of Experience
Bel-Air Cases is the original manufacturer of vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and heavy-duty shipping cases. Since the 1960s, we’ve designed and built cases for just about any item imaginable, and our team has the experience and know-how to create a case that is perfect for your needs, no matter what those might be.
- Our Heavy-Duty Cases Meet ATA Guidelines
ATA specifications were created by the airline industry to help consumers find cases that were built to withstand frequent air travel. The airline industry can be tough on cases, but our heavy-duty shipping cases can handle flight after flight with ease and continue to protect whatever you place inside your case.
ATA specifications require that an ATA case be able to handle at least 100 round-trip flights, and we think you will find that our ATA shipping cases can go well beyond this standard and our shipping cases also meet many MIL specifications.
Whether you need ATA cases or you need cases that meet military, government or aerospace specifications, we are likely to be able to provide you with cargo cases that meet all of your transportation needs.
If you need waterproof cargo cases, our cases fit the bill. You can drag our custom shipping cases through a Brazilian rainforest without worrying about damaging what’s inside. Our cases also can handle temperature extremes, so whether you need a case that can handle the freezing temperatures of Antarctica or the heat of Death Valley, we have you covered.
- Our Shipping Cases Are Made-To-Order, Yet Affordable
At Bel-Air Cases, we do not offer any off-the-shelf cases as every case is made to order. This means we don’t have any cases already, completely build, in stock or ready to ship. Our goal is to build the best cargo cases for your requirements and not try to fit you into the closest size case we might already happen to have. This provides you with a much greater range of sizes and options, assembled just the way you want it.
While each case is made to order, our customers often are surprised at the overall affordability. We certainly don’t sell cheap $50 cases, but you also won’t find many $900 cases either. Typically, you can expect to pay about $400 each for five large shipping cases, which is actually a great value for made-to-order thermoformed cases.
- Each Case Includes Custom Foam
While the exterior of our cargo cases is tough and durable, our shipping cases also include a custom foam insert. Unlike many companies in the case industry, we never hand off a case with a hunk of cheap pick and pluck foam, also known as diced foam. This is a low-quality type of foam, and not only is it not as protective as our custom foam, but the customer also is forced to create custom cavities for their equipment by snipping away at the foam with scissors or blades.
If a customer is paying for a hard case with foam, we firmly believe they should not have to deal with this cheap diced foam. Our custom foam interiors can be as simple as a high-quality foam liner, or we can fabricate interior walls, add dividers or interior doors, add panel mounts or shock mounts and much more. We design each foam insert specifically around the products placed inside, and the case foam adds another layer of protection to keep your delicate equipment safe from the bumps and jolts typical during transportation.
- You Can Customize Everything!
In addition to customizing the size of your cargo cases and the interior foam, we have many other custom options. You can add different types of wheels and handles to your cases, including telescoping handles. You can choose from a wide selection of locks and latches, and if you don’t see precisely what you want on our website, we can probably find what you are looking for and we are happy to search around until we find the perfect match.
Additionally, we can provide you with an assortment of case colors. Black and silver are our standard case colors, but we can create your cargo cases in several other stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum order, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching. We also can add molded-in logos, custom decals or engraved plates to your cases.
What Can You Ship In Our Cargo Cases?
While you can place just about anything inside a custom Bel-Air shipping case, here are just a few items for which our heavy-duty equipment cases are commonly used:
- Aerospace Equipment
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Cameras & Related Equipment
- Commercial Tooling
- Computer Equipment (and Electronics)
- Diagnostic & Testing Equipment
- Industrial Tooling
- Lighting Equipment (Industrial & Commercial)
- Medical Equipment
- Military Equipment
- Motorcycle Engines
- Surveying & Seismographic Devices
Additionally, we also produce custom expo cases, which are ideal for trade show displays and graphics or any other item with an odd size or shape that won’t fit easily into a standard shipping case.
We also produce medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases. These carry cases can be used to hold many types of equipment and also are used frequently as sales kits and OEM cases. Our medium-duty cases are not appropriate for items that will be frequently shipped as luggage or cargo, but our heavy-duty carrying cases can handle the rigors of transport with ease.
Contact Bel-Air Cases Today!
If you need rugged custom shipping cases or cargo cases, contact us at any time. If we don’t think our cases are the perfect fit for your equipment, we will let you know, but we typically can match every customer to custom cases that meet their specifications and their budget. You can contact us by phone at (866) 235-2472 or via email at info@bel-air-cases.com.
Plastic Cases With Foam Inserts: Why Foam Matters
At Bel-Air Cases, our custom plastic carrying cases and shipping cases are built to be protective and durable, but we are well aware that if you truly want to protect what’s inside a case, plastic cases with foam inserts are essential. Still, it’s not just about adding foam, it’s about adding the highest quality foam inserts, which is the only kind of foam we provide for our clients.
Custom Foam Vs. Pick & Pluck Foam
Too often in the case industry, a custom case maker hands off a case with a chunk of diced foam inside. This also is known as pick and pluck foam because the new owner of the case has to pick away and pluck away at the foam in order to create cavities for their equipment.
Not only does this look sloppy, but it’s also not nearly as protective as a custom foam insert. Pick and pluck foam tends to be low-quality foam, as well, and will break down quickly, forcing the case owner to purchase new foam and pick and pluck and cut out new cavities.
We’ve been designing and producing carrying cases, shipping cases and expo cases for more than 50 years and not once have we ever handed off a case with a chunk of diced foam. Each of our plastic cases with foam includes a custom foam insert. It might be as simple as a quality foam liner, or we can provide you with a design that shields and cushions every piece of equipment that will go inside the case.
Foam is crucial because it protects delicate and expensive items from the typical jostling involved in transportation, and our durable foam also absorbs vibrations. Our custom foam inserts are designed to fit precisely around your equipment, providing the highest level of support and protection.
Which Type Of Case Do You Need?
We offer three different categories of custom plastic cases – carrying cases, shipping cases and expo cases.
Carrying Cases – We offer medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases and these are ideal for sales kits, diagnostic equipment, medical kits, smaller photography equipment and even as OEM cases.
Medium-duty cases are best used for items that only occasionally will be transported as luggage and for items that weigh between five and 40 pounds. Typically, a medium-duty carrying case will be transported by car or perhaps in the overhead bin of an airplane, but they aren’t really meant to be used as freight cases.
If you need a carrying case that can be transported frequently as luggage or cargo, our heavy-duty cases are your best option. These cases can protect delicate items and heavy items that weigh 30 to 40 pounds.
Shipping Cases – If you need tough, durable cases that can handle the rigors of transportation and frequent shipping, our heavy-duty shipping cases are your best option. These cases can be built to accommodate most ATA and MIL specifications and are designed using the toughest materials and hardware we carry. In fact, our client list includes many aerospace companies as well as the U.S. military, so our plastic cases with foam truly can handle the toughest environments.
Expo Cases – These cases (also known as trade show cases) are built using the same tough materials as our shipping cases, but they come in unique sizes to carry items frequently transported to trade shows, such as posters, graphics, displays, banners and other objects that just don’t fit into our regular style cases.
How We Make Plastic Cases With Foam
Bel-Air Cases was the first company to produce vacuum-formed hard plastic cases. Each of our equipment cases, carry cases and shipping cases are custom-made to order, and we do not offer any off-the-shelf cases.
To build each case, we use thick sheets of high-density polyethylene, which is a durable, impact-resistant and moisture-resistant thermoform plastic. We chose this material because of its durability as well as its ability to withstand temperature extremes and keep out moisture and water. It’s also very lightweight, which can reduce your shipping costs.
Each sheet of plastic is heated to a malleable temperature and then vacuum-formed using a custom mold. Once each half of your case has been vacuum-formed, we use heavy-duty aluminum valances to hold the two halves together. We can then add a variety of standard and optional hardware components including hinges, latches, handles and wheels.
In addition to offering many options for custom handles, wheels, latches and other hardware, we also can customize the look of your cases. Our standard colors are silver and black, but we have several optional stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum purchase, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching.
Many of our customers also like to personalize their cases with graphics and logos. We can add a molded-in logo to each of your hard plastic case with foam inside or add engraved plates or custom decals. These can be a great option for OEM cases and sales kits, providing you with a truly professional look, but they also can make it easy to gather up your cases at a busy airport, trade show or other events.
Our Foam Options
While we offer tons of custom options for your case exterior, we are experts at fabricating foam interiors. We can create custom die-cut cavities, fabricate interior walls, add plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts depending on your needs and the type of equipment or items you intend to place inside.
Custom foam is the best option for just about any carrying case or shipping case, and we usually can construct custom foam sets for around the same price as you’d expect to pay for cases filled with diced foam or cheap foam slabs.
If you need custom plastic cases with foam inserts, the team at Bel-Air Cases is ready to help. We can provide you with carrying cases, expo cases and durable shipping cases. To get started with a case project, just click on the Contact tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. You also can call us at (866) 235-2472 or email us at info@bel-air-cases.com.
Shipping Your Hard Case With Foam
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been designing and producing custom cases for more than 50 years, and if you need a hard case with foam that can handle the rigors of transportation, we’ve got you covered. But, we also have some helpful information about shipping your cases, and which carriers might offer the best options for your needs.
First, A Look At Our Foam
While the exterior of a Bel-Air hard case with foam is built to handle shipping as cargo or freight, the foam interiors are just as important and as you came to this page looking for a “hard case with foam,” let’s talk about foam for a minute.
It’s not uncommon within the case industry for manufacturers to hand off completed cases with a chunk of diced foam inside. This also is known as pick and pluck foam, and it’s a cheap type of foam that is not built specifically for your case. In fact, the customer is responsible for cutting away at the foam with a razor blade in order to create cavities to hold their equipment. While this practice is common, we find it unacceptable.
We believe that if a customer is investing in a quality custom hard case with foam, that foam needs to be high-quality and customized to whatever will be going inside. We can design any type of foam interior you might need and are experts in fabricating interior walls, plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts.
Our quality foam also will hold up for many years, unlike the diced foam that some manufacturers use. If you truly want a highly protective hard case with foam that can stand up to the punishment inflicted by the transportation industry, our plastic cases are equal to the task.
Your Shipping Options
Our heavy-duty carrying cases and heavy-duty shipping cases can be shipped without any additional packaging. Depending on the size of the case, you have many shipping options including UPS, FedEx, DHL and the United States Postal Service (USPS). If your case fits within an airline’s luggage specifications, you also maybe be able to simply bring it with you are cargo during your flight.
USPS will not ship packages more than 130 inches in combined length and girth, and once your parcel is more than 108 inches, your case falls in the Very Large USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Select categories.
UPS has similar restrictions, as well as a weight limit of 150 pounds for regular parcels. If you are over that size or weight, you will need to opt for UPS’ freight services and they offer a variety of freight services, both domestically and internationally. FedEx also places packages greater in weight than 150 pounds in the freight services category.
Keep in mind, our largest shipping case has a combined total measurement of less than 108 inches, so if the total weight is less than 150 pounds, you may be able to ship the case without opting for freight services. We can build larger cases if you need them, of course, but our largest standard model is 48×24 and up to 27 inches in total height. When it comes to our heavy-duty carrying cases, only our very largest sizes exceed 108 inches and are just over 40 pounds empty at their heaviest.
In many situations, it’s smart to look beyond USPS, UPS or FedEx for your freight shipping needs. For instance, you could look into less-than-load freight shipping, also known as less-than-truckload shipping or just LTL shipping. Basically, with LTL shipping, you are taking up a portion of space on a truck and because other shippers also are paying for a portion of the space, the overall costs can be more affordable than with other types of freight shipping.
When it comes to expo cases, which we also produce, and cases shipped for trade shows, we recommend you look into special event shipping companies. These companies specialize in moving freight for companies involved in trade shows and other big events, and they often have better pricing than you would find through a more traditional type of freight company.
If you are shipping your case, we recommend having them built with locking mechanisms, and we have several options, including key locks and combination locks. Our best tip is to let us know how you intend to ship your hard case with foam so that we can build it out with that in mind.
Which Case Is Your Best Option?
If you plan on shipping your cases frequently, you have several options when it comes to case type, and each has its pros and cons. The most important factor is to ensure that the shipping cases you purchase are built to ATA standards.
ATA standards were created by the airline industry for suitcase and shipping case manufacturers and when cases are built to ATA standards, it means they are built to handle frequent transport, whether it’s as cargo on an airplane, truck, train or ship. We can build you cases that meet most ATA and MIL specs. Our clients include the aerospace industry and the military, so we have many years of experience building cases that have to handle the toughest conditions.
We specialize in designing and producing custom vacuum-formed hard plastic cases. Our cases are built using high-density polyethylene, which is a durable type of plastic known for its impact resistance. This polyethylene also is moisture-resistant and resistant to many chemicals and can handle temperature extremes. Polyethylene also is very lightweight, which helps keep your shipping costs down.
Other options include roto-molded cases, injection-mold cases and fabricated wood cases. Each of these types of cases has its pros and cons. For instance, roto-molded cases and fabricated wood are very heavy, but roto-molded cases are quite durable and fabricated cases can be easily customized to whatever configuration you need. The team at Bel-Air Cases will let you know if our vacuum-formed cases are your best option or something else might be a better fit as we want all of our customers matched to the best possible case type for their needs.
With vacuum-forming, we can design cases in almost unlimited sizes and configurations. Through the years, we have collected a wide variety of case tooling, with more than 50 different configurations ready to go. However, if you need a unique size, we can build that for you, as well, although it might add a few extra weeks to your case project.
If you need a hard case with foam (or many), the team at Bel-Air Cases can help. We’ve been designing custom shipping cases and carrying cases since the 1960s for everything from lighting equipment to audio-visual equipment to military equipment. Our cases can be used for sales kits, medical kits, diagnostic equipment and even as OEM cases. Give us a call at any time and let’s get started on your custom case project.
Bel-Air Plastic Carrying Cases With Handles
If you’ve been searching the internet for a custom “plastic carrying case with handle,” the team at Bel-Air Cases can design whatever you might need. We’ve been designing and producing plastic carrying cases and shipping cases for more than 50 years for clients in a wide range of industries. Here are four quick facts about Bel-Air Cases and what we provide for our clients.
- We Have Two Plastic Carrying Case “Levels”
At Bel-Air Cases, we offer a medium-duty plastic carrying case and a heavy-duty plastic carrying case. The medium-duty cases are designed to be used as sales kits, demo kits and OEM cases and for items that weigh up to 40 pounds. While these cases can be transported occasionally as luggage, they aren’t meant for frequent transport. Most of our medium-duty cases tend to be used for short-distance travel, typically in a vehicle trunk or backseat.
If you do need the convenience of a plastic carrying case, but also intend to ship that case frequently as cargo or luggage, our heavy-duty carrying cases are the perfect option. This is also a great option for heavier items that weigh 30 to 40 pounds.
These cases are built using the same materials we use for our shipping cases, but they are formed using our carrying case molds, which results in an easy-to-transport case that offers maximum protection. In fact, our heavy-duty plastic carrying case with a handle can meet MIL and ATA specifications. Over the years, we’ve had many military and aerospace clients that use our heavy-duty carrying cases and shipping cases, and these cases definitely can hold up to the rigors of military and aerospace transport.
- We Use Tough Materials
When you think about the term, “plastic carrying case,” you might not correlate the idea of plastic with words like durable and tough, but the polyethylene we use for our heavy-duty carrying cases and shipping cases is one of the most durable case materials available.
Plastic materials are tough and impact-resistant, as well as moisture-resistant. Our cases can handle temperature extremes and changing weather conditions. Whether you need to take a Bel-Air Case to a research station in Antarctica or into the Brazilian rainforest, your Bel-Air case can handle the temperature changes or even a torrential downpour. Our plastic materials are chemical-resistant and UV-resistant, as well.
Of course, many people worry that in order for cases to be tough, they will end up with an excessively heavy carrying case, but polyethylene is extremely lightweight and the aluminum we use for the case valances is also lightweight, yet highly durable. While our heavy-duty cases can handle the rigors of transport with ease, your plastic case with handle also will be easy to tote.
- We Have Many Handle Options
Every Bel-Air Case is made-to-order, we don’t have any off-the-shelf cases, and this provides customers with the freedom to create completely custom plastic carrying cases with handles. Obviously, every case needs a sturdy handle, and we have a wide variety, including everything from telescoping handles to strap and briefcase type handles. Handles can be recessed, as well, which complies with ATA specifications.
Of course, it’s not just about customizing a plastic carrying case with a handle, we also have a variety of other custom features, including wheels, hinges, latches and locks. While our carrying cases can be carried easily, adding wheels and a telescoping handle can be a great option if your case contains heavier items. We also can add a variety of locking mechanisms, including key locks and combination locks.
In addition to creating a custom plastic carrying case with handle, wheels, locks and latches, we also can add in a molded-in logo, a custom decal or engraved plates. Our standard colors include silver and black, but we also have several optional stock colors. With a specific minimum order, we may be able to provide you with color matching or a custom color.
- We Provide Custom Foam Interiors
While the exterior of your case is important and protective, the interior can be just as important. We design our custom foam interiors with your products or equipment in mind, and each custom cavity or die-cut will surround and cushion your equipment precisely.
Too often, custom case makers will hand off a great-looking plastic carrying case with a handle, but once you open it, you find a chunk of diced foam inside. This low-quality type of foam, also known and pick and pluck foam, is a problem for several reasons. Not only does it force the client to cut away at the foam to create custom cavities for their client, but it also tends to break down quickly and you’ll have to replace the foam again and again. Of course, once you finish plucking away at the foam, you will have a bunch of foam let over that you end up throwing away.
We think our clients deserve better. If you’re paying for a custom carrying case or custom shipping case, a custom foam interior should be part of the project. We can design any type of custom foam interior you might need from a simple foam liner to foam interiors with plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts, shock mounts and more.
Selecting A Case
At Bel-Air, our focus is on designing and building vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and shipping cases, but those aren’t the only case option to consider. Our cases are ideal for many types of products including lighting equipment, audio-visual equipment, medical equipment, etc. Our heavy-duty carrying cases and shipping cases often are used to protect and store military or aerospace equipment, but they can be built around just about any item.
Our cases are ideal for any client that needs a high level of durability and/or a high level of customization. The process of vacuum forming is versatile and allows us nearly complete freedom in terms of case size and configuration. Additionally, our cases are much more lightweight than fabricated wood cases or roto-molded cases, which can greatly reduce your shipping costs. Our design team will help you determine if our vacuum-formed cases are the most appropriate options for your requirements. If not, we will help you find another source.
Contact Us Today
Whether you need just one custom plastic carrying case with a handle or you need a whole fleet of them, we can help. To get started with a custom case project, just click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. You also can contact us by phone at (866) 235-2472 or email at info@bel-air-cases.com.
5 Facts About Our Made-To-Order Carrying Cases
At Bel-Air Cases, we believe a carrying case should be attractive, functional and durable, and that just about every product deserves a custom-made case. Our custom carrying cases are built around your equipment providing the ultimate level of protection. Before you get started with a custom case project, take a few minutes to learn a bit about our cases and our philosophy.
- Not Everyone Needs A Custom Carrying Case
It might sound strange for a custom case manufacturer to admit that not everyone needs a custom carrying case, but they aren’t the best option for everyone. For instance, if you just need one carry case and the items you are toting aren’t particularly delicate or expensive and don’t need to be displayed for clients, then you probably don’t need one of our carrying cases and an off-the-shelf case might be a better fit. While we are happy to make custom cases for any client, but we’ll be honest with you if our carrying cases probably aren’t the best or most cost-effective option.
However, our made-to-order cases are the best option for many applications. If you need a durable and attractive case for a sales kit or perhaps some type of delicate equipment, our carrying cases can be ideal. We design carrying cases for sales and demo kits, medical kits, electronic items, instruments, lighting equipment or anything else you need to tote. Our sleek carrying cases are especially popular as OEM cases, as we can create dozens or hundreds of custom carrying cases and personalize each case with a molded-in logo or custom decal.
- We Offer Two “Levels” Of Carrying Cases
If you need a sleek, attractive case but don’t intend on using the case as luggage, our medium-duty carrying cases can be the best fit. These medium-duty cases might be fine occasionally transported as luggage, but they aren’t designed to handle the rigors of frequent transport.
Our heavy-duty carrying cases are the ideal option if you need to ship items frequently as cargo or as luggage. These heavy-duty cases also are ideal for heavier items, weighing between 30 to 40 pounds or for delicate items. If you have larger or heavier items, we recommend that you opt for one of our custom shipping cases. Keep in mind, we can add wheels and telescoping handles to our shipping cases (and our carrying cases) to make it easier for you to tote it through a busy airport, a trade show floor or anywhere else you need to take it.
- We Use Tough, Durable Materials
We’ve been building custom carrying cases and shipping cases for more than 50 years. In fact, we were the original producers of vacuum-formed equipment cases. We use tough high-density polyethylene to form the shells of all of our plastic cases. High-density polyethylene is lightweight, impact-resistant and moisture-resistant. The two halves of your case will be held together with a tough, but lightweight aluminum valance.
Our quality materials and high construction standards are precisely the reason why Bel-Air Cases don’t come with a written case warranty. We’ve never needed a warranty because we stand by our cases throughout their lifetime. If a component breaks, we’ll fix it. We know the transit industry is rough on packages. So, while we cannot guarantee that your cases will never be damaged, we can assure you that we will always repair the damages for as long as you own the case.
Keep in mind, again, that our medium-duty carrying cases are not meant to be transported as luggage or cargo. If you do need to frequently ship your cases, it’s best to opt for the heavy-duty carrying case or our shipping cases, which are built with ATA specifications in mind.
- We Create Quality Custom Foam Inserts
Too often, case manufacturers simply stick a slab of pick and pluck foam into a case and hand it off to their client. To begin with, pick and pluck foam generally is low quality and we don’t believe that customers should pay for a custom carrying case and then have to pick and cut away at the foam in order to make cavities to fit their equipment. Not only does this look unattractive, but it’s also not very protective and this type of foam tends to break down quickly.
With a Bel-Air carrying case, we will design a custom foam insert specifically for whatever you intend to place inside the case. We design custom foam cavities to fit perfectly around your items. Whether you want custom hand-cut or die-cut foam interiors or simply a foam liner for your case, we will use quality foam materials that protect your items from impact and vibrations.
- We Offer Many Custom Features
While a sleek black or silver carrying case can be a perfect option for many clients, if you want a bit more color, we offer several additional stock colors including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum purchase, we also may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching.
We also can add a variety of graphics and logos, including a molded-in logo, engraved plates or custom decals. These options can provide you with a truly professional touch and are a perfect option if you wish to use our cases either as OEM cases or sales kits, but opting for colorful cases with custom decals or logos can make it easier for your team to identify cases at the airport or perhaps in a large convention center, etc.
Of course, we also offer a variety of hinges, handles, latches and locks and we can add telescoping handles and wheels to your carrying cases, as well. All of these hardware options are crafted from the highest quality materials which ensure a nice long life for your case. You can browse through our interior options at https://www.bel-air-cases.com/case-interior-options/.
Bel-Air carrying cases are available in hundreds of sizes and almost limitless configurations. Whether you need just one custom carrying case or hundreds, the team at Bel-Air is equal to the task. To get started with a carrying case project (or to order custom shipping cases or expo cases), simply head to our homepage and click on the blue Request a Custom Quote tab and fill out our quick contact form.